Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for being with us today and for their patience during that vote. I am sure it is not easy to have a meeting disrupted like that. I apologise that I am in my office. I am watching the Planning and Development Bill at the same time as I am a member of that committee. I am sorry not to be at this meeting in person. I think the witnesses' main message tonight has been that they need an adequate legislative framework with teeth when it comes to becoming a fully fledged authority in respect of oversight. That is where we as Oireachtas Members can help. The witnesses have listed three reports, from Bernard Gloster, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the Law Reform Commission. The previous speaker asked a couple of questions on them. Only one of them is published at this point, with two more to come. My first question is asking for the witnesses to continue to engage with us on this. Once those two additional reports are published, we will probably have more information and more context in terms of the landscape we are operating in. It would be really good if the witnesses were in a position to come back in to the committee at that point to share their feedback on those reports once they are published and engage with us as to how we can build on the recommendations in them to make the legislative framework more adequate. My second question is about the 24-7 national call line they spoke about. Have they costed that and what are the budgetary ramifications of it? I am trying to keep it as quick as possible because I know it is late at night for the witnesses.